It's Not Too Late to be Thankful, Is it? by Linda Maynard

This Thanksgiving Week, we are looking at what we are grateful for.

My list would include knowing the Lord Jesus, my marriage, my family, my home and my church to name a few. I will eternally be grateful to God for the deep blessings in these areas.

 Soon after this past presidential Election, I was ambushed with thoughts with an urgent tone. It was a strong message that resonated deep within my soul.


“Don’t forget to be grateful for the freedoms that you enjoy in America, especially the freedom to worship and the freedom of speech.”

For a long time. The ministry, “The Voice of the Martyrs” had been placed before me. I am going to be honest and tell you that I heard about its existence, but shied away from knowing anything more about it. I suppose it came into the category of ““Well, I can’t support every Christian Ministry and having to do with the fact that I knew their news would not be uplifting "(at least in my eyes at the time) Its reports, from distant countries, seemed far removed from me.
That was my stance, until I signed up to receive a free book “Tortured for Christ”, written by Richard Wurmbrand. Like Fox’s Book of Martyrs, it is a not an easy read.

 Through that offer, I also signed up for the magazine Voice of the Martyrs.


The accounts and their pictures told of horrific tales of believers standing for their faith in Jesus Christ. These men and women and yes even children are modern heroes of faith.

Many live in countries that are more than just intolerant of the Christian Faith, but those who are utterly hostile to it.


Many think it is honorable to rid their areas of Christians. In some countries Christians are referred to as infidels…people to get rid of.

Sometimes they will declare that they are doing so in order to follow the dictates of their own “consciences” by “honoring” their "god(s)"

Babies are still sacrificed in India and thrown into a fire to appease the gods. In India, I think the number of "gods "is in the millions.

In many hostile places, they are neither able to practice their faith nor to speak about it.

I recently became friend with a Chinese college student who is a new Christian. She shared how her friend and she would study the Bible together, but of course these meetings had been clandestine, she also mentioned how the teacher, who told her about the Lord, could have been arrested for proselytizing.

Growing up, I was told not to take things for granted. The message ,more or less, focused on any material things I had acquired.  Taking for granted the blessing of freedom… to practice my faith and express my beliefs openly seemed like a given.

I know there is a word that is thrown around these days and it is entitlement. I would have to say, that was my attitude. I couldn’t really see any reason why these freedoms wouldn’t always be there for me and my family.

When thoughts contrary to that long held belief intruded, I could chase them away…until this past presidential Election.
I don’t want to be among those anymore who think the freedoms that we enjoy in our country are any less, than a God given grace and blessing over our land.

I want to be among those who join with wholeheartedly praying, in the long requested prayer, which has been around the Body of Christ for years.
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land….2 Chronicles 7:14

A beautiful and favorite patriotic song that I love is God Bless America….It even has more words than we usually sing

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Will you join me in thanking the Lord for blessing America? Will you pray that we all will turn from our wicked ways and humble ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to spare us from wickedness and hostility, such as we have never seen in our lifetime?

In most polls, we will never come out on top but… if we take a lower stance and humble ourselves, God promises to hear our prayers.

 And for that very fact, I am grateful.




          

Don't Let the Money Burn a Hole in Your hand

It’s funny how kids can take things so literally. As far as the Title of my blog, my father used to say that to me. He had worded the quote wrong. It actually says “Don’t Let the Money Burn a Hole in Your Pocket.” I can remember though, when he handed me some coins, I was unsure if I should or should not spend them. I honestly thought my hand was going to light up into a flame.

This week, on Kingdom Bloggers, we are writing about things money can’t buy.

Ideally, I would like to have the attitude of the Apostle Paul, always being content whether I had plenty or was in want. But hey, I am not there yet.

I have been thinking about what on earth I would write about and the first thing that popped into my mind was my Sobriety. I have been sober since June of 1979. I really don’t think about it a lot but I said YES…that is key for me.

So much of what I enjoy, in my daily life, would be colored differently, if I was not clean and sober. My husband would be affected and perhaps would  have decided not to stay married. If he did, I am sure that his life would be filled with disgust, anger and a futile feeling of wondering why I just couldn’t quit. There would have been a lot of arguing as well.

My children would have suffered greatly in their formative years. I can remember when I was in the Treatment Center, a wise older male counselor, who looked like Yoda (I kid you not), said something to me. He said “You are very fortunate that your children are as young as they are. They probably will not remember your drinking days. “(They were3 and 5 at the time) He kind of gestured to other women and said, “Some of these women have older children that already hate them.” What he said was true, as I have apologized to my children on numerous occasions and they say “Mom, we don’t even remember. And yes mom, we forgive you.”I would say that they have had a decent childhood.

Another area, that would be affected, is my relationship with my grandchildren. I would never be trusted to care for them, as I do. Nor would I be able to drive them in a car.

So…yes…my sobriety is a treasured gift. One of the slogans of AA is “A Grateful Heart is Always Sober”. I am one thankful person, as I believe Alcoholism has a genetic component and some people, that I love, do not yet have the freedom that I do.  Growing up, with it’s influence on our family, it had long standing negative effects.

The second thing, that I know could not have a price put on it, is the ability to walk.

 My dad suffered a devastating stroke towards the end of his life. He was completely paralyzed for about 7 years. To watch him, a fiercely independent man that was physically big in stature and presence, suffer in this way was heartbreaking. As much as it was for us to watch him, I am sure for him, it was a living hell. It affected his limbs, as well as his bodily functions. He became totally dependent on others, as he ended up in a Nursing Home. It became, not a thing that happens to other families, but a reality in our midst. As I result, I could never again take for granted health and mobility.

Lastly, I have been on the Mailing List for the Voice of the Martyrs. Until I received the magazine, I paid a little attention to the plight of these present day martyrs. It was when I received the magazine, saw pictures and read their personal testimonies, that the suffering of many entered my consciousness.

There is an incredible price, in some countries, to pay for belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that we often, in America, will say that we are grateful that we enjoy our freedom of religion, but do we ever think about what we would do in such circumstances? I honestly pray that I would be as committed and brave, but I don’t know.

I do know that I don’t want to be one who says I wish I was more grateful, when we had religious freedom, if it was ever taken away.

I know that doesn’t sound very positive, but as freedoms in our country are slowly eroding, it is something I think about.

It goes without saying that I consider my greatest gift, that money could never buy, is the freedom that the Lord Jesus Christ wrought for me on the Cross

Can we ever be thankful enough for the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus gave for mankind?

Lord, help us to have that truth, ever before us all.

Linda Maynard